Hook and Jones are battling for Wales' fly-half role against Ireland

Wales centre Jonathan Davies is fit to face Ireland in the Six Nations on 12 March, sparking a debate about who should play at fly-half.

James Hook moved from 10 to 13 to cover Davies in the 24-16 win over Italy and Stephen Jones was at fly-half.

Scrum V pundits Brynmor Williams and Jonathan Davies are among those to disagree on who should don 10 next.

Davies said: "I would move Hook back to 10." Williams replied: "We need the two of them."

Jones kicked 11 of Wales' points at Stadio Flaminio while Hook dropped the late goal that gave the visitors a cushion going into the final minutes there.

Jones, the 98-cap, 33-year-old Scarlets veteran was dropped to the bench after Wales' campaign opened with a 26-19 Millennium Stadium defeat by England as Hook moved from full-back to fly-half for the 24-6 win over Scotland at Murrayfield.

Extended highlights - Italy 16-24 Wales

But centre Davies was injured in the Scotland match, prompting Wales boss Warren Gatland to give Jones the 10 jersey in Rome and move Hook to his third position in as many Tests.

Davies' namesake Jonathan said: "I think Jonathan Davies is a very, very fine player; Jamie Roberts again ran really strongly so they're a good partnership. Lee Byrne, then, ran great lines.

"But I would move Hook back to 10 because Stephen Jones has been a great player for Wales over the last decade or so.

"But I feel now we know what Stephen can do so we need something different.

"So I feel that James Hook goes back to 10, Stephen goes on the bench and Wales use him as England have used Jonny Wilkinson."

However, ex-Wales and British and Irish Lions scrum-half Williams feels sorry for backs such as Jones, Hook and number nine Mike Phillips claiming they lack of good possession from the pack.

606: DEBATE Hook is the best footballer in the Welsh squad but his game management sucks, leave him at centre and keep Jones at 10 but you have to speed up the service to him 2ndWind

Williams believes Hook should move to fly-half when Wales are in opposition territory and Jones should fill the role when on the defensive in their own half.

"I'm amazed with the debate, honestly. I feel sorry for Stephen Jones. I'm amazed because you've got now Stephen Jones low on confidence and that came out yesterday.

"And you've got James Hook - pressure's heaping on him and he's got no conviction because he hasn't played there [regularly].

"I think if we want to beat Ireland we've got to have them both in the side. Why not have James Hook in their half and why not have Stephen Jones in our half?

"But we need to exert control.

"The boys [Scrum V pundits] are drawing comparison with England. Let's not forget the English pack are in control for 70 per cent of the game.

"You can bring an outside half on - he settles in and goes about his business. At the moment we're winning 40 per cent possession.

Scarlets pair Jonathan Davies and George North will be fit again for Wales

"You can't expose an outside half to that in the last 20 minutes and say "win the game for us".

"It's not going to happen.

"I think we need the two of them [Jones and Hook]. Jonathan Davies has got a huge career ahead of him and good luck to him I say.

"But I would keep Stephen Jones and Hook in the team and mix them up a bit more.

"But what is important is that we get some possession.

"We're not getting go-forward ball at all. We're not in their half at all - I feel sorry for Mike Phillips, Stephen Jones and James Hook because we're not making enough of an impression up front certainly in loose play once the set-pieces have unfolded."

Wales attack coach Rob Howley admits the fly-half choice will be a "big one" ahead of Ireland's visit.

Wales have only beaten the Irish once in Cardiff since 1983 - and that was Wales' memorable Grand Slam clincher in 2005.

Teenage wing George North could be called into Wales' squad after he made a try-scoring comeback from shoulder surgery for the Scarlets in their 11-3 win over Edinburgh on Thursday.

Wales may also consider calling up Andrew Bishop after the 15-times capped international centre returned from ankle ligament damage in the Ospreys' 33-18 win over Connacht on Sunday.

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